MEANWHILE:

  Haruki loose on the embrace of Sakura and looks at her. The radiance of the sunset filled on his view; her face filled with gentleness and her warm smile caught him off guard.

  Averting his eyes on hers, he clears his throat. “We better be going home…”

  “Yeah, we should.” Sakura replied, her lips shown a sincere smile. Haruki grabs the sling of his backpack and walks past Sakura, as she follows along and walks beside him.

  The silence between them didn’t feel stifle; more of like, they’re just enjoying the presence of each other as they walked downstairs.

  As soon as they reached the last staircase, they caught three shadows, seeming on rush. Their voice, though faint, still heard on the empty lobby of the school. “Look at those fools.” Sakura utter as she chuckles.

  “Yeah, seems like they watched us… huh?” Haruki replied. Sakura tilts her head, hearing the words he said. “Well, Kei and Kagome encouraged me to talk to you.”

  Haruki’s eyes widened after he heard those lines. “They said not to take long of our misunderstandings… and I realized that as well.”

  The words she speaks feels like a cold water splashes on him. The thought that he shouldn’t be bothered by what happened, and all is water under the bridge now. Sakura maintain her smile.

  “Let’s get going, shall we?”

  Through those next lines she said, Haruki shows a smile, giving a small nod to her message. “Let’s go home.”

  ****

  “The study session will be this Saturday, right?” Haruki asked as they walked out of the campus. Sakura looks at him and nods. “Yeah, and I’m readying my materials for it.”

  “You look like a diligent student, huh?” he smiles.

  That smile of his caught Sakura’s eyes, making her heart thumps fast. “Well, yeah… since I’ll be a third year next year.” she replied. “Plus, I’m also doing it for my future.”

  The clacking sounds of their loafers heard on the asphalt road, as revving sounds of cars passed quickly on the main road. “Hoh, you’re really like a diligent student, Senior Sakura.”

  Haruki cackles as he took a glimpse at her, then focuses on his front. “So, what’s your dream?”

  Sakura glances at him, asking that question. “I want to be a teacher.” She speaks softly. “There’s this teacher I had way back in my freshman of Senior Year. She’s an admirable adult. And I felt this vibe on her that inspires me to be one like her.”

  On her memory recalled that day. That day she met that person. The cool vibrant of hers, and the calm demeanor she has caught her thoroughly.

  “Seems like you got to like that person, huh?” Haruki interjects on her thoughts, causing her to tilt and look at the guy. His face, bathing on the vermilion hue of the sunset captured by her eyes lure through.

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  “Huh?”

  “You. You like that person, right?” He asked. The first person caught her attention, and popped on her mind is him. Sakura couldn’t give a response right away. She knows the person he’s talking to right now.

  Yet, there’s this feeling that she might misunderstand his question. Haruki, still looking at her, smiles. “You don’t need to get worked up on that.” he chuckles. “I mean, we have our admiration towards someone.”

  They both continue walking. “Good thing for you. You have thoughts about your endeavors in the future.”

  “Hmmm?” Sakura asked, as she looks at him. “What about you?”

  Haruki glances at her and snickers. “I haven’t thought about it. But before… I want to be a police officer.”

  Sakura nods to agree on his answer, still her eyes didn’t leave him. “It was lost... the thoughts of me being a police officer. Now…” he then tilts to look at her and shows a bright smile. “I think I want to pursue that career in the future.”

  That smile, once more, captured Sakura’s eyes. Her heart, though thumping, but it becomes calm. The presence he has soothe through her, and made her feel secured. The feelings she’s trying to confirm, suddenly became clear.

  From this moment, she realized she’s in love with a guy named Nakazono Haruki.

  She stopped from walking, noticing the sudden feelings bloomed inside her. This is kind of new and she can’t get the gist of it. Haruki notices as he passed a few inches from her.

  “What’s the matter, Senior?”

  “Huh? Ah, no…. I-it’s nothing.” Sakura replied and immediately followed him. Her face feels hot, her eyes quivers. Her lips formed a smile, but she hides all of it from him. She tried to compose herself, to make him avoid of her feelings right now.

  “I guess, Shion’s right….” Sakura whispers on herself. Now she can’t conceal it. Realizing what’s really true to her feelings. Haruki isn’t just someone she’s befriended with.

  He’s the person that make her feel special. And the one she likes. The one who can make her gray mood turn colorful. The one made her realize that falling in love isn’t bad as it seems to be.

  Around 15 minutes, they arrived at the bus station.

  They both waited for the bus to arrive. Dusk blend on the vermilion sky, as Haruki looks at the time on his wristwatch. As they wait, Sakura felt the quietness between them comforting.

  Between them is the bound of their friendship and her newly discovered feelings for him. “Say, Haruki…” on their silence, Sakura utters a word and glances at him.

  “Hmmm?” He asked, tilting his head to look at her.

  “Nothing. Just want to call your name.” she cackles softly and pokes his cheek, where his dimple shows. Haruki’s brows furrowed, noticing the sudden behavior of his Senior.

  “Hey, you’re touching me.” he asked.

  “Well, I am just admiring your dimple. It’s cute.” She let out a soft giggle, still poking his cheek. Her eyes glimmer with mischievousness, still locked to see the features of him.

  “It’s the first time you said that. Before, you get annoyed by my dimple.” His eyes sneer at her. “You even tried to slap me off when I smile at you. Now...” he let out a sigh. “You’re weird.”

  “Well, I have a change of hearts now.” she replied, still smiling at him. “We people do have change of hearts from time to time, right?”

  Haruki’s brows furrowed further from her words. A few moments, the bus arrived. “Your bus is here.” he uttered and looks at her. Sakura suddenly felt sad as the bus got over.

  “I don’t feel like going home yet.” she utter.

  “Huh? But it’s getting late. Besides, we still have school tomorrow. We’ll see each other again.”

  Those words made her feelings lift up. Since today, she realized that she like Haruki, as a guy… there’s more time for her to get to know him further. “Right.” she mumbled.

  Standing up from the bench, Sakura walks towards the bus to board in. But before getting in, she turns around and look at him. He’s just stand there, watching her before the bus leaves.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Haruki.” she speaks and waves.

  “Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow, Senior.” Haruki replies and waves back. Boarding in, Sakura paid for the fare and goes to the seat near the window. She took a glance at him and waves; the bus board off.

  Haruki just nods as his eyes follows the bus until it vanishes in his sight. Alone on the bus terminal, he sighs and sits. His hands covered his face and screams inwardly, he felt his face like burning while remembering the gesture Sakura made.

  “THAT WAS EMBARRASSING!” he cried out loud on the empty bus station.

  While Haruki screams, Sakura just leaned her head on the window, watching the cityscape life starting to fill in from the distance. With her lips forming a smile, her feelings fleeted through the dusk and vermilion sky.